LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Mike Tomlin returned from spending Friday night in Canton with Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ronde Barber and didn't let up. Tomlin said it was important to follow up a physical night practice with a physical day practice hours later. He said in the season you will be presented with quick turnarounds and he's preparing the team for that by working them hard back-to-back.
Green again at H-Back
Four more reps for 2021 starting center Kendrick Green at H-back on Saturday. He had three reps for Friday Night Lights catching a pass. He had another reception from Mason Rudolph on Saturday along with a couple of blocks.
"He's done some nice things," Tomlin said. "It's not new to him. We really discovered it late last season in preparation for Baltimore when he was representing that big fullback for them. We asked KG to provide a quality look for us and he really did. We just put that in our hip pocket and in an environment like this we want to see what guys are capable of doing adding to their cause and ours. He's shown some flexibility there."
"He had everybody hyped," said tackle Broderick Jones. "That's going to be a big asset for us in the long run because people just don't see that too often. They don't expect it and get a workout."
"I saw it on film and said that's dangerous and someone is going to get hurt," said safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. "He's a big boy. He caught a pass in the flat today and I was like I definitely don't want to be tackling him."
Injuries
No update on Damontae Kazee, other than he's a few days away from returning to practice. Keanu Neal missed practice for an undisclosed injury. Nick Herbig left with a hip flexor injury and his brother, Nate, had a hand or thumb injury. Joey Porter, Junior left with an ankle injury, had it re-taped and returned.
7 Shots
Another day of the two-point conversion with the same reps-Kenny Pickett and the first team for four and Mitch Trubisky and the second team with three.
· Pickett incomplete on a fade to George Pickens
· Pickett TD to Diontae Johnson, left side beat Elandon Roberts
· Pickett incomplete to Allen Robinson on a rollout, the ref called a defensive penalty for holding
· Pickett too high for TE Pat Freiermuth
· Trubisky curl TD to Calvin Austin at goal line
· Trubisky pass in the flat to Anthony McFarland TD
· Trubisky incomplete to Miles Boykin
Backs on Backers
A couple of matchups we will highlight In this one-on-one, physical period
· Darnell Washington got the better of Nick Herbig four times, but the one Herbig won he blasted by the tight end
· RB Jaylen Warren knocked LB Elandon Roberts on his back, and then stood over him celebrating
· LB Kwon Alexander knocked RB Najee Harris down and after Harris won the next matchup, Alexander put a move on Harris that caused him to whiff
· McFarland was able to hold his own with Mark Robinson
· TJ Watt got the better of Washington, going underneath
Other observations
· Diontae Johnson had a good day, making a couple of nice catches and turning upfield for YAC yards
· Dan Moore had most of the first-team reps, when Broderick Jones came in, Moore moved to the right side in place of Chukwuma Okorafor.
· Robinson had the lone interception wrestling a ball away from Connor Heyward
· Pickens made another leaping, toe-tap catch in the back of the end zone on 11-on-11 drills
· Pickett threw a nice back-shoulder pass to Robinson. He also had good communication with Johnson on a purposely underthrown ball
· Keeanu Benton crushed McFarland behind the line of scrimmage
· Miles Killebrew tackled McFarland for a 5-yard loss
· Austin had a nice catch where he went high over the middle, kept his feet and headed quickly upfield
Steelers will practice again on Sunday at 1:55p at St. Vincent College, it's family day for the players and staff.
Love for Darrelle
Tomlin said he spent time with some Hall of Fame Steelers on Friday along with Ty Law and Darrelle Revis and their families.
"Tip of the cap to Aliquippa, special, special legacy," Tomlin said. "And the Pitt Panthers were highly, highly represented in environments like that. Two quality, historic programs from this neck of the woods and their significance are on display."
